NIST scientists have developed the world’s most precise gamma ray detector, measuring just one millimeter square. This prototype can identify specific gamma ray signatures of atoms with 10 times the accuracy of conventional sensors. The detector uses superconducting “transition edge” sensor technology, which absorbs individual photons and measures their energy based on temperature changes.
The technology could revolutionize nuclear inspections by allowing inspectors to determine plutonium content without handling materials or relying on operator information. A 100-sensor array is being developed for field deployment, potentially enabling inspectors to identify dangerous materials and their origins more accurately.
The detector’s development is funded by NIST and the U.S. Department of Energy, with research published in the IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record in 2005.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2006/03/record-breaking-detector-may-aid-nuclear-inspections
Keywords: Metrology, Sensors, Plutonium, Radiation, Superconductors
